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May 14, 1984

Judged by consumer spending, the economy grew more strongly in April without a spurt in prices, according to government reports issued Friday. The Labor Department said wholesale prices held steady last month, halting a four-month rise in that measure of inflation. The Commerce Department said retail sales rose 2.9 percent in April, reversing the 2 percent decline of March.

The zero rate of change in wholesale prices may quiet some analysts' concern that the continued strong rebound was reigniting the high inflation of just a few years ago. That concern has contributed to a climb in interest rates to the highest levels since 1982.